Lagos, Nigeria – For the first time during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Trade through the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) Lagos, made efforts to boost Indonesian exports development to Ghana, West Africa, on 22-23 February 2022. The activities were market visits, business exploration (business matching), as well as a business forum inviting distributors, traders and importers.
“The purpose of Market visits was to see firsthand and talk to traders and discuss about Indonesian products that are already in their markets and compare with competitors. It was noted, that canned sardines and Indonesian margarine were in high demand and competes well with similar products from the Netherlands and Malaysia. ITPC Lagos team also visited a local herbal medicine shop and explained the advantages of Indonesian herbs which are safe for health because they are standardized by the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM),” explained Head of ITPC Lagos Hendro Jonathan.
On the following day, ITPC Lagos in collaboration with the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) Abuja and the Indonesian Honorary Consul in Ghana held the Ghana Indonesia Business Forum. The event which was attended by 48 participants was held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra-Ghana.
This hybrid business forum was attended offline by two Indonesian companies already established in Ghana, namely Menjangan Sakti Group and PT Sinar Antjol. In addition, four Indonesian companies were present online, namely PT Indonesia Trading Company, PT Dami Sariwarna, PT Paragon Technology and Innovation, and PT Duta Serpack Inti (2 Tang).
Hendro explained that during this business forum, they received 4 inquiries for PT Dami Sariwarna on herbal products for the treatment of hemorrhoids, diabetes, and hypertension.
“In addition, PT 2 Tang received three inquiries for tea products, PT PPI received one inquiry for canned sardines, and PT Wardah received one inquiry for skin care products. Meanwhile, Menjangan Sakti Group and PT Sinar Antjol have found new distributors for retail products,” explained Hendro.
Apart from participating companies, ITPC Lagos delegation noted the high demand of Indonesian products in Ghana, such as lubricants, automotive parts, plastic household appliances, spices, and wigs.
In its implementation, the Accra business forum activity succeeded in achieving a potential transaction of USD 350 thousand consisting of transactions for herbal products, tea, skin care, energy drinks, canned sardines, lubricants, car accessories and spices.
The Economic Function of the Indonesian Embassy in Abuja, Mr. Tamel Vinsen Sinabutar added that the buyers who attended wanted to know more about Indonesian products. “This meeting is expected to open the horizons of Ghanaian buyers in finding quality products from Indonesia. There are so many business opportunities that can be exploited by business actors,” he said. The total trade between Indonesia and Ghana for the January-December 2021 period was recorded at USD 257 million. Indonesia’s total exports to Ghana amounted to USD 209 million, an increase of 54 percent (YoY). Indonesia’s leading export commodities to Ghana include canned sardines, tea products, spices, and vegetable oil.